Amusement device.



H c TANABE AMUSEMENT mzvaca.

APPLlCATIOH FILED JUNE 21 19!].

Patented my 28,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

III HHIIIIHHIIIIIIIW" INVENTOR ATTORNEY H. C. TANABE.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1917- I LfifiT/QQfil v Patented May 28, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR ArroRNEY H. C.TANABE. I AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

SHEET 3 to m d" n H m a i m 2 E N W D M N 0 H A m w P A H 3 Wu 9 W WU QM 9 l INNENTOR WITNESSES Ha/m 4 0 6. 721/7ab@ I Wig/o ATTORNEY HAKU'LYO CHUHACHI TANABE, 0F MARYSVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Pater; ted May 2,

Application filed June 2, 1917. Serial No. 172,446.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAKULYo CHUHAcHr TANABE, a subject of the Emperor of Japan, residing at Marysville, in the county of Yuba and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to amusement devices generally, comprehending particularly improvements in an outdoor amusement device in the nature of a combined seesaw and merry-go-round, primarily designed for use in affording much pleasure to children.

The primary object of the present invention, among other features, contemplates the production of an amusement device of the above stated character which is manually propelled and embodies a plurality of arms having supported at the opposite ends thereof seats, the arms being so connected to one another, whereby upon the descending of one seat, will impart to the adjacent seat an ascending movement, thus presenting abundant amusement and novelty to persons oper ating the amusement device.

A further object of theinvention is the provision of a novel construction of means for mounting the arms on the revoluble post, permitting of the arms having a free vertical rocking movement, and at the same time preventing the displacement of the arms from said post. 1

Furthermore, I contemplate providing on each of the arms a resilient member capable of cooperating with an annular track for imparting to the device a rotary movement.

A still further object of the invention re sides in the provision of an amusement device of the above stated character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and elficient in its purpose, strong, durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts which will hereinafter be more fully set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is'a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the post supporting means;

Fig. 4. is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the supporting arms removed from the post;

Figs. 5 to 7 are detail views illustrating the mounting of the supporting arms to said post;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of a slightly modified form of mounting the arms on the post;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of the leg for imparting a rotary movement to the supporting arms.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views, the amusement device as its entirety embodies a platform 5 having rigidly secured centrally thereof, a supporting base 6 by the passing of fasteners such as bolts or the like through the platform and apertures 7 of the base. Rising vertically from the central portion of the base 6 is a hollow cylindrical casing 8 in which is j ournaled for rotary movement a vertically arranged post 9. Provided in one of the side walls of this casing 8 is an observation openinglO which further facilitates the lubricating of the post bearings. Located on the post 9 at a point adjacent the casing 8 is keyed a collar 11 provided with a plurality of radially extending spaced apertured ears 12, between each pair of which is rigidly secured radially extending bars 13.

Provided in the supporting post 9 at points adjacent the upper extremity thereof are a plurality of spindles 14, 15 and 16 which extend radially from opposite sidesof the supporting post and arranged in staggered relationwith one another, for permitting of the mounting on the supporting post 7 a plurality of supporting arms 17. Each of these supporting arms is constructed from a single strip of material formed at a point intermediate their length with an oifset yoke-shaped bearing 18 and the side portions of the offset bearing present a pair of trans versely alined bayonet slots 19, in which the extremities of the spindles are inserted, permitting of each of the arms having a horizontal rocking movement. The relation of the spindles with one another, prevents the obstruction of rocking movement of the respective arms when the device is in use, and furthermore, the enlargements 20 of each of the spindles prevent any lateral displacement of the arm from the bearings, while the lip 21 formed at the base of the bayonet slot 19 serves to prevent the displacement of the arms from the spindles, more especially upon the manual propulsion of said arms. The opposite extremities of the supporting arms 17 are provided with upstand ing L-shaped portions 22, including a U shaped horizontal portion 23, while pivotally mounted in the spaced limbs forming the horizontal portion are seats 24. CertaiIl Of the Ushaped horizontal portions 23 are disposed obliquely with relation to the vertical portion of the L-shaped members 22, for the transportation, more especially of Women, children or the like persons. The spaced limbs forming the horizontal U- shaped portion are utilized as hand grips. Provided on each of the bars 13 at a point adjacent the free extremity thereof, is a pulley 25 over which is trained a flexible connecting strand 26 in the form of rivets, chains or the like, and; this strand loosely passes through the guide eyes 27 arranged on the bottom of each of the supporting arms at a point substantially medially of its length, and obviously this construction of connecting strand will, when one of the arms is descending, tension the connecting member to automatically raise the adjacent arm. In other words, and in order that a clear understanding of the invention may be had, as the occupants of the seats push on the platform 5, will start the rocking of certain of said arms, and in turn will automatically cause the operation of the remaining or all of said arms to produce a see-saw effect.

f I further contemplate, however, producing an amusement device of the above stated character whereby upon the, rocking of the supporting arms, a step by step rotary movement will be imparted to the post 9' and in turn revolve the supporting arms 17 for providing a carousel or merry-go-ronnd. With this object in view, use is made of a leg 27 detachably connected in depending relation with each of the supporting arms 17, by inserting the reduced upper extremity of the prop 28: constituting one section of the leg, through apertures29 of the supporting arms and securely fastened to the arms by a nut 30-. The lower extremity of this prop 28 is loosely. inserted in a hollow tubular sleeve forming the other section of theleg construction, and the sleeve 31" is tensioned by interposing between the sleeve and the cotter pin 32, a coil spring 33. A guide lug 34; of the prop operates in slot 35 of the sleeve for limiting the vertical movement of the prop, within the sleeve 31. Secured uponthe platform 5 in convenient relation with respect. to, the prop, 28, is an annular track 36 including a plurality of inverted Mshaped sections 3'1, which when united for use, dispose the inclined branches 38- thereof oppositeoneanother. to. provide between the said sections or steps, depressions 39 of substantially semi-elliptical form.

The foregoing description being directed to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the modification illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawing is illustrated of a diiferent type of means or bearing to facilitate the mounting of the supporting arms 40 to the supporting post ll. Briefly referring to this modification, the arms i0 at a point medially of their length are chamfered out as at 4'2, and a block 43 is connected on the chamfered portion by fastening devices 44, and when so assembled, will provide in the arm a slot through which the fulcrum point 45 traverses and likewise passes through the post for connecting the supporting arms therewith to produce a see-saw eifcct.

In briefly describing the operation of this invention, the persons partaking of the amusement device become properly seated, and when the parties occupying the seats closest to the platform 5, will kick or push on the surface of the platform and start the rocking motion of the supporting arms. This movement of the arms renders to the occupants of the device anmsemont in the manner 'of a see-saw, and as the arms gradually descend, the roller 46 journaled in the lower end of the sleeve 31 will come in cou- .7

tact with the diverging branches 38 of the inverted V-shaped portions 37 of the annular track 36 and gradually glide downwardly into the depressions 39. Upon this action of certain of the arms, the remaining arms, through the aid of the coil sprin 33 and a pull on one of the stretches of the exible onnecting strand 26, will tend to lift the leg from the depression and gradually ascend upwardly on the adjacent diverging branch portion of the steps .37. Such operation will impart to the arms a step by step rotation, producing to the amusement device a step by step rotary movement.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawin s, the advantages of construction and t e method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, and while I have described the principles of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now conside to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made. when desired as are within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new, is

1.v An amusement device comprising a base, a post j ournaled on the base for rotary movement, a plurality of supporting arms ,pivotally connected,- with the post and capable of a rotary movement, and means loosely engaging with each of the supporting arms and disposed in embracing relation with respect to the post for imparting to the arms a rocking movement.

2. An amusement device comprisin abase, a vertical upright post journaled in t e base, a frame rotating from the post, a plurality of supporting arms mounted on. the post, and means loosely connected with each of the arms and with said frame for imparting a rotary movement to said arms.

3. An amusement device comprising a base, a vertical upright post journaled in the base for rotary movement, a frame radiating from the post, a plurality of supporting arms mounted on the post for rocking movement, and a flexible element loosely connected with each of the arms and with said frame for imparting a simultaneous rocking movement to the arms.

4. An amusement device comprising a base, a vertical upright post journaled in the base for rotary movement, a frame radiating from the post, a plurality of support ing arms mounted on the post for rocking movement, a flexible element loosely connected with each of the arms and with said frame for imparting a simultaneous rocking movement to the arms, and means for producing a step by step rotation to said arms.

5. An amusement device embodying a base, a supporting post journaled in said base, aframe radiating from the post, a plurality of supporting arms pivoted to said post, means loosely connected with each of the supporting arms and frame for simultaneously rocking the supporting arms, an annular track embracing the base, and a resilient leg depending from each of the arms and coacting with the track for producin to the arm a step by step rotation.

6. n amusement device comprising an upright, a frame fixedly secured to the upright, a plurality of supporting arms pivotally connected with the upright at a point above the frame, an eye on the frame, an eye on each of the supporting arms, and a flexible element trained through each of said eyes.

7. An amusement device comprising an upright, a frame fixedly secured to the upright a plurality of supporting arms pivotally connected With the upright at a point above the frame, an eye on the frame, an eye on each of the supporting arms, a flexible element trained through each of said eyes, and means carried by each of the supporting arms at a point in advance of the latter mentioned means for imparting to the arms a step by step rotation.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HAKULYO CHUHACHI TANABE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

